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"What do you need? Tell me."

Josh swallowed. Michael was standing so close he could feel hiswarm breath on his cheek. Josh's erection brushed the soft fabric of Michael'spants. For the first time in the weeks he'd been working this job someone hadreached him—reached past his passive, pseudo-submissive front to the real subwho lurked beneath.

His guard down, Josh blurted, "I need someone who appreciates thecourage it takes to submit, someone who looks deeper than mere bondage anddiscipline to the potential for…" He faltered and pressed his lips together. Hehad been about to say "love" but found his mouth refused to form the word. He'dnever shared his secret dreams with anyone. Why should he tell this stranger,this man who paid to play at being a Dom with him?

Michael took a step back, frowning. "I understand. Even withoutthe words you're biting back. I apologize. It's your body and your obedienceI've purchased for the hour, not your mind, certainly not your heart. Anycontrol I might exert over you doesn't mean shit the second that timer goesoff."

He brushed his hands together as if wiping them clean, and saidabruptly, "Strip and stand at attention in the center of the room, hands lockedbehind your head. Eyes on the opposite wall. Don't move."

Josh gave an inward sigh of relief. This sort of command heunderstood. He shucked his clothing and stood as instructed, wondering ifMichael favored the flogger or cane, the whipping post or the cross. Whateverhe wanted, Josh could handle. As long as Michael stayed out of his head, he wouldbe fine.

Michael made no move to retrieve a toy or to order Josh toward atorture device. He simply stood watching him with those very blue eyes. Hestepped closer and reached out, tracing the line of Josh's biceps with hisindex finger. He drew it up over his shoulder and down to the soft hair in hisarmpit. Josh, naturally ticklish, tried not to squirm as Michael's fingerglided down his side to his hip.

Michael stepped back and flattened his palms against Josh'sstomach, moving upward toward his chest. Again the desire to kiss the man rosein Josh's blood. He closed his eyes, leaning lightly against the hot press of Michael's palms.

"Don't move. And open your eyes. I didn't tell you to close them."

Josh obeyed, trying to look past Michael, to look through him.Michael stepped back and took hold of Josh's nipple between his forefinger andthumb.

"Imagine the needle pressing sharp through your flesh, the painexploding through you, followed by the rush of endorphins and the thrill ofknowing you've committed a true act of submission. Picture the simple goldhoops you would proudly wear for your Master, a symbol of your servitude, agift shared between you both."

He squeezed hard, twisting Josh's nipple and pulling it toerection. Josh gasped and blinked. Perversely, his other nipple tingled withanticipation of the same rough treatment. Abruptly, Michael released him. Hisnipple throbbed, his nerves sending a jolt of desire through his blood.

Michael stepped back, and unable to help himself, Josh leaned forward,his body aching to reconnect.

Lightly Michael stroked the still-erect nipple, circling it with alight touch. "If I were to pierce you, you wouldn't be bound. You wouldn't berestrained with rope or leather. You wouldn't be gagged or in any way heldcaptive. I would only pierce you because you asked me, because you begged me,because you ached to feel the hot, sudden sting of the needle before the softgold was slipped in place.

You would offer your body up for my needle, anultimate testament of your obedience and willingness to suffer for me."

Who was this man? Why was he saying these things to Josh? Theyweren't lovers. This hour wasn't supposed to be about Josh. Every other clientto date had used him, yes, but without regard for his thoughts, to what movedor aroused him, to what mattered. That had suited him. It helped define thisjob as a gig, nothing more. A game, a way to earn serious money withoutinvolving his heart or his soul, without compromising the poetic promise oftrue submission he clutched to himself like a precious jewel.

"Would you do that, Josh? Would you give of yourself so completelyto your Master, to the one who owned your heart?" His words were like a caress,like a velvet command Josh couldn't resist.

Josh nearly answered. He nearly cried out, "Yes! Yes!" Somehow,with just a few words and a skillful touch, this stranger wove a web of desirearound him. He wanted to succumb. He wanted to fall to his knees and whisperhis promise to cherish and obey. He was both deeply excited by Michael's visionand scared to death.

Though he knew it wasn't allowed, Josh was nearly desperate tokiss those full, pouting lips. The urge was so powerful he found himselfleaning down, his eyes fluttering closed of their own accord, his heart tappingin anticipation.

Michael stepped back, his voice suddenly abrupt, the silky,seductive tone replaced by an almost military sharpness. "Bend over thespanking bench. Take hold of the legs. Don't move. Don't make a sound."

It took Josh a moment to process the abrupt changed in mood. Backon familiar ground, Josh felt as if he'd just been released from a sensualspell. He'd been teetering on the edge of some kind of romantic delusion. Thankgod the man had stopped his false though compelling seduction.

With a shaky breath of relief, Josh knelt as instructed and drapedhimself over the high, padded bench, gripping the legs. He wished Michael hadchosen a different form of erotic torture. For while Josh loved the stinging heat of a good spanking, he found this the most difficult to submit to in thedungeons.

It was because of the intimacy of skin on skin. It was relativelyeasy to disassociate from the person wielding a whip or flogger. It was muchharder to distance himself while lying over the thighs of another man,especially one he found attractive, one he unaccountably wanted to serve, moneyor not.

At least the bench would put some distance between them.

He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, anticipating thestinging slap of Michael's palm. Though he tried to tell himself this was justanother client, just another pathetic, lonely guy who had to pay for whatshould have been his for the asking, he knew he was lying to himself.

His entire body was poised, waiting, eager, almost desperate tofeel the intimate, sharp caress of Michael's touch. Whoever the hell this guywas, Josh wanted him.

Bad.